2013 International Society for Clinical Densitometry Position Development Conference: Task Force on Normative Databases

Following the standard protocol for development of Official Positions for the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, the Expert Panel heard the report and recommendations from the Task Force on Normative Databases; using the RAND methodology, agreement was reached on the following statements: 1. Manufacturers should continue to use their own databases for the lumbar spine as the reference standard for T-scores. 2. Manufacturers should continue to use National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III data as the reference standard for femoral neck and total hip T-scores. 3. If local reference data are available, they should be used to calculate only Z-scores but not T-scores. 4. A uniform Caucasian (non-race adjusted) female reference database should be used to calculate T-scores for men of all ethnic groups.